how to get here + info

The main public transport hub in Catalunya for travelling to Ecodharma is Barcelona. Most people who visit ecodharma from Europe travel by land, passing through Barcelona on the way. As a community and project we very much encourage this. Choosing not to travel by air in particular, considerably reduces the environmental impact of a journey and provides a more realistic experience of moving from one place to another, allowing valuable time for reflection and adjustment.

Although carbon offsetting is not a solution to the effects of flying on the climate, if you are going to fly to Spain then please consider this Carbon Offsetting Project.

There are various options for overland travel:

By Rail: From Paris, there is a comfortable overnight sleeper to Barcelona which can be connected via Eurostar from the UK. There is now also a fast train which connects Paris to Barcelona known as the TGV. This and other rail journies within Europe can be booked on the RailEurope website. Booking well in advance makes it cheaper.

By Coach: Traveling by coach can take a little longer but is generally cheaper than the train. You can travel by coach all over Europe with Eurolines.

Hitchwiki is a very useful resource if you are considering hitchhiking.

From time to time and depending on numbers we may be able to arrange to collect people from Barcelona. This is usually exceptional, but is occasionally possible, especially if we have other good reasons to be travelling into the city. However, when this is not viable there are good public transport options:

Public transport in Spain

By public transport, you will find it easy to get to either Isona or Tremp, the two closest towns. It is possible to get a bus from Tremp to Isona and we can make arrangements to collect you from there. Please ensure you make these arrangements with us by email well in advance. If you experience any difficulties on your journey and will not be able to make the meeting point at the arranged time please let us know as early as you can – take a copy of our mobile phone number with you just in case!

From Barcelona

By bus:
The bus is usually your best option for public transport from Barcelona. A bus service leaves from Estación del Nord bus station (the nearest Metro is Arc de Triomf) usually twice a day. At present, there are a couple of buses each day from Barcelona run by a company called Alsina Graells. The stop you need is Isona. The journey takes around 3 hours. At the time of writing the timetable is: the first bus departs 7.30hrs (arrives Isona 11.00hrs), the second bus departs at 14.30hrs (arrives Isona 17.40hrs). Please confirm these times with Alsina Graells. The journey costs around €25. We will arrange to collect you from Isona. The usual meeting point in Isona is the Café-bar Modern, right where the bus stops.

By train:
The train from Barcelona takes you via Lleida. It is circuitous and the connections usually make it a poor option compared with the bus. A direct train takes just over an hour to Lleida and costs about 24 euros. The trains from Barcelona to Lleida depart from Barcelona Sants Station. For more information: http://www.renfe.com/viajeros/. From Lleida, a single line railway runs from the Lleida Pireneus Station to La Pobla de Segur. This line passes through Tremp, which is the stop you will need. There are usually three trains each day. It is a journey of about 1.5 hours and costs about 10 euros. For more information: http://www.trendelsllacs.cat/ If you come by train, it’s unlikely we’ll be able to collect you from Tremp unless a member of the community happens to be there that day. It’s more likely that you’ll need to get yourself to Isona (either by bus, taxi or hitching) and we can collect you from there.

Driving:
If you need to travel by car see directions below from major nearby cities. Please consider car-sharing. If you are coming on a retreat or event and are planning to drive let us know as we may be able to put you in contact with others making the same journey. Please note there is very limited parking in the nearest village to the centre.

Driving from Barcelona or Girona

Head for Ponts via Calaf. From Ponts head for Andora and take the left-hand turn at the first roundabout leaving Ponts, signposted Tremp. Follow this road to its end (30mins) at the T junction at Folquer. Turn right and follow the road as it climbs up to the Coll de Comiols. Continue on the road as it descends past Biscari and Benavent. After another few minutes, there is a right-hand turn signposted Isona. Take this road and follow it through the village. A little way after the village centre there is a right-hand turn (actually a straight continuation where the main road curves to the left) signposted Abella de la Conca. Follow this road out of the village and for 3 km of straight road through Almond orchards. A signpost marks the left-hand turn for Abella de la Conca. Another 6 km of winding road will bring you to the village. Unless you have a 4×4 vehicle you are advised to leave your car in the village, where we can arrange to meet you.

Driving from Lleida (from the south) or via Viehla from France

You will need to pass through Tremp. Leave Tremp on the road heading east towards Isona. Follow this road for 10 mins until you see signs for the left hand turning for Abella de la Conca (near a Repsol Petrol Station and the small town of Figerola). Take this road and follow it, passing through Figerola (1km) and then Conques (5km). 4 km after Conques you will begin to enter Isona. As you enter the village there is a sign posted left-hand turn for Abella de la Conca. Follow this road out of the village and for 3 km of straight road through Almond orchards. A signpost marks the left-hand turn for Abella de la Conca. Another 6 km of winding road will bring you to the village. Unless you have a 4×4 vehicle you are advised to leave your car in the village, where we can arrange to meet you.

Driving via Andora

You will follow the road through La Seu d’Urgell and take the main road in the direction of Barcelona and Ponts. After 25 mins you will come to a right hand turning at the village of Coll de Nargo. Take this and follow the main road (curving left through the village) towards Boixols. You will pass through Boixols after around 25km. Continue for another 20km of winding road. Having descended a long section of curves you will see a right-hand turn – take this towards Abella de la Conca. Another 6 km of winding road will bring you to the village. Unless you have a 4×4 vehicle you are advised to leave your car in the village, where we can arrange to meet you.

The Eco-Dharma Centre is situated in a beautiful and wild part of the Catalan Pyrenees. We offer courses, events and retreats which support the realisation of our human potential and the development of an ecological consciousness honouring our mutual belonging within the web of life – drawing on the Buddhist Dharma and the emerging ecological paradigms of our time.Site developed by Nick Day.